A DUEL WITH CARVING KNIVES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 200, 21 September 1878, Page 4

A DUEL WITH CARVING KNIVES.

Two Virginian furmers, Messrs Alexander Sily and Forest Colep, brothere-in-law, fought a duel at Forest Depot, Virginia, on the 20th May, of a most iliatressing nature. The quarrel arose out of a bet as to the weight of some corr. Hot words ecsued, aud s< finally the lie paßeed." Siley then proposed to adjourn to a wood about a mile distant, and "fight it out with knives." This suggestion met with the approval of Coles, and the two men weat home and procured carving knives. They told an old colored laborer named I3ob Orminglon to meet them at the spot arranged, aud to bring an axe wiih him. On arriving at the wood they informed the negro of their intention, and directed him if he found one taking advantage of the other " to rush in with the axe and straighten them." They then stripped to the waist and without aDy delay began. Tbe duellists, it is stated, were men ot " BplendiJ physique " and perfectly cool. They first tried fencing, but after a few parries Coles becau to use his knife like n madman. He inflicted five deep wounds in his antagonist's body, one being a severe gash in the throat. Siley "fell to the ground in a few minute?, and died iu less than half an hour. Coles received tbr6e wounds — one in the arm, one in tho ribs, and one in tbe neck. The old negro was so terrified that he did nothing but yell; but when Siley was dying, and Coles had fallen to the ground exhausted by loss of blood, the uegro rushed off and gave the alarm. A constable whom he met hurried to to the spot and found Siley dead and Coles apparently dying. They were carried to the nearest housp, but Colea'a recovery, by latest account^ was thought doubtful. Siley bad only been roarried a few noonthp, and was singularly handsome. Colee, it is added, ia related to a " prominent politician."